Packing for fragile articles



Nov. 2, 1937. M. KOPPELMAN PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Dec. 22. 1934 ATTORNEY.

units.

,Patented Nov. 1937 I UNITED RSSTATES PACKING FOB FRAGILE ARTICLES Morris Koppelman, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 22, 1934, Serial No. 758,745

30laims.

The improvements relate to packing units for eggs and other fragile articles and more specifically to what are commonly known as egg flats, and to packing of this character in which the articles are held and supported in shallow cup-like members formed by upstanding hollow rims or ridges having in effect a substantially cone-frustum formation, with bowl-like depressions in their interior. These holders are usually located in the bottoms of cells formed by the usual honeycomb fillers and serve not only to support and protect the articles thereon but to lock or hold the fillers in position on the flat, by engaging the bottom edges of the filler members.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement in the packing shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,429,207 granted September 12, 1922 to me and another, under which egg flats have been made and universally used for many years, and to which reference may be had for further description of the general character, function and use of such packing The improvements are intended primarily for use in the packing of eggs and the drawing and description set forth a packing designed for such use. They may however be used for any purpose to which they may be adapted.

In modern practice eggs packed in crates are kept in cold storage and the air in'such storage maintained at a high degree of humidity to prevent deterioration. Ozone is also added to the air for the benefit of the stored eggs. n is important that this conditioned and vitalized air shall have access to the porous shell of the egg throughout substantially its entire area in order that no portion of the contents of the shell shall be permitted to deteriorate. But it is also im- -portant that the packing of the eggs shall be effective and dependable under all conditions and shall protect the eggs against all the shocks and jars of transportation and handling, and despite the softening effect of condensed moisture which forms on the eggs. and is imparted by them to the packing, when they are removed from cold storage or are otherwise subjected to changes from a cold to a warm atmosphere. The problem therefore of providing a packing which will meet all these requirements is a serious one and has not so far as can be ascertained been solved heretofore. It is therefore the primary purpose of the present improvements to provide a packing having substantially all the advantages of the packing set forth in said patent and in addition the ability to give the eggs the full benefit of cold storage treatment as above indicated without being subject to damage by moisture and water formed by condensation thereof.

The requirements of such a packing are many and among them are the following:

(l) It must have substantially all the excellent qualities and advantages of the packing of the said patent; (2) it'must permit access of hie conditioned air of cold storage to the shell of each egg substantially throughout'its entire area; :(3) itmust the egg permit the circulation ofv air around it in all directions and at all parts; (4) it must be so formed that moisture condensing on the egg -commonly called sweating"-and communicated to it will not have the effect of causing it to-soften and break down or yield and thus deprive the eggs of proper protection. It is apparent therefore that the packing, while it must conform to a sufficient extent to the contour of the egg to support and protect it under all conditions, cannot exclude air therefrom and cannot be so formed as to permit the moisture of condensation to saturate it and deprive it of its necessary strength and slight resiliency. As a modified form, I have shown an embodiment having all of the foregoing advantages, as well as the additional function of permitting drainage of moisture from. beneath the article to a region outside of the holder. with these requirements in view and with the object of solving the problems caused thereby the present improvements have been designed.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of an egg flat embodying the improvements;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof slightly enlarged;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing also a portion of the cell forming filler;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of one of the cups or holders substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and still further enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a plan; and d Fig. 6 a medial vertical section of a modification; and V Fig. '7 is a plan of another modification.

Referring to the drawing, the preferred form of the improvements is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the embodiment shows upstanding substantially frusto-conical holders or supporters iil having uniformly shaped sloping walls which are continuous and uninterrupted, although the improvements are of broad application and may be applied to other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

. As set forth inthe aforementioned Patent No. 1,429,207, the upstanding holders or supporters are formed in the sheet or flat simultaneously with the formation of said sheet or flat, the creation of the sheet and the projecting holders, being preferably accomplished by one and the same process or series of operations, as for example by a molded pulp process, as described in said patent, although other, methods may be while holding and protecting employed. These holders or supporters l preferably consist of outer walls which slope upwardly and inwardly from a rounded and/or substantially circularbase integral with the "fiat or sheet II and terminate in a ridge or rim i2 protruding above the plane of the sheet. The outer walls aforementioned are preferably continuous and uninterrupted, providing a frusto-conical form from base to ridge. As illustrated, the ridge or rim l2 has a rounded perimeter and is pref erably rounded and merges with inner walls It which slope downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the ridge where theyconverge with a medial portion id, in the nature of a web or cup-like connecting and reinforcing portion extending over the space circumscribed by the ridge l2, but beneath the plane thereof, and preferably above the plane of the sheet, the inclination of the outeg' walls of the holders being in the opposite direction to that of its inner walls, which with the depressed web portion, forms a cup-like interior.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 to 4, as well as to the drawings of the said patent, it will be seen that the holders or supporters are not of the unitary cell type which encompass the article or egg in its entirety or enclose even half of it, but rather are of the individual seat type, wherein the ridge or article-contacting portion is of much less diameter than the diameter of the article. It is thus apparent that the article sits up on the holder with the lower tip of the article slightly spaced from the web I4, and the bulging faces of the articleextending outwardly and upwardly beyond the limits of the ridge IE, or of the ridge vertically produced. Flats or sheets with holders or sup porters thereon, of the foregoing character, are the type of device to which the present improvements are directed.

Upon reference more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the ridge or rim l2 of the holders, is provided with two or more spaced indentations l5 which are defined by grooves it having rounded bottoms and outwardly rounded upper edges merging with the upper edge of the ridge i2. These indentations form apertures or channels which run through the upper part of the ridge and extend inwardly a suflicient distance to afford access of air from one side of the ridge to the other while the article is seated thereon. In the event that the tips of some articles seated on the holders may extend to the web i l, the grooves are preferably extended along theinner walls I 3, along web Hi to a central area where they may meet, intersect or merge with the fiat surface of the web, thereby providing a complete air channel beneath the seated article, from the exterior of one side of the holder to and through the other side.

While four such indentations and grooves are illustrated at spaced points about the periphery of the ridge l2, it is obvious that the number may be varied. The grooves may be tapered or graduated in depth and width from the ridge to the central area of the web It for affording circulation of air and for preventing the body of the web protruding downwardly beyond a safe plane. In addition to providing air channels, these indentations and grooves tend to strengthen and reinforce the ridge, inner walls and web, as well as the holder as an entirety. The recognized strength of the reverse arch formation provided by the oppositely arched outer and inner walls of the holder, is preserved and extended in the rounded or arched contour of the indentations and grooves. The walls of these members merging with the ridge and portions circumscribed thereby, affording increased strength thereto.

If desired, the number of indentations It may be multiplied so that the ridge I 2, is substantially an undulating or corrugated annulus. For best results however, four indentations, as illustrated, may be used, This does not weaken the structure but provides improved resiliency and cushioning efiects.

It is noteworthy that in designing the present improvements, the form and efflciency of the holders of said patent has been preserved unimpaired. The outer sloping walls, which form a sturdy foundation, are maintained continuous and uninterrupted in their annular form, as in the patent. The reverse arch formation provided by the ridge, inner walls and web remain as before, and merge and cooperate with the aforementioned outer walls to provide that strength but necessary resiliency to which the commercial success of said patented structure is, largely, attributable. At such areas in the structure where the present improvements are applied, they have been designed in a form to preserve the original strength and resiliency, by providing rounded or arched grooves and indentations which function in substantially the same manner, and cooperate with the entire structure of the holder to maintain the required rigidity without impairing its resilient and cushioning qualities.

As fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 1, each sheet will usually have six rows of six holders each, totaling thirty-six holders, this being the standard capacity of ordinary sheets or flats with the cell-forming members or fillers l8 spaced from one another, so that the portions of the sheet therebetween, and the adjacent upstanding walls of adjacent holders provide grooves which receive the vertical edges of the filler i8, so that when a sheet and filler are superposed, the edges of the latter are engaged in the grooves and provide a means for positioning and maintaining the parts in relative position.

In packing the standard case, usually ten layers of eggs are placed in one case. Each layer comprises one fiat or sheet Ii with a honey-comb filler thereon, such layers being superposed so that the flat serves to holdethe eggs and fillers above and below it, as set forth in the patent. Accordingly, but one fiat or sheet is used for each layer, except where additional sheets are used at top, bottom and sides of the case, as cushions. When packed in this manner and placed in the humidified atmosphere in cold storage, the conditioned air permeates the case or crate and the cells thereof. With the present improvements this air gains access to that portion of the shell of the egg which is enclosed by the annular ridge of the holder on which it rests. The air accordingly reaches the interior of the holder through the indentations and grooves, and between the web and egg shell, circulates in all directions, and contacts the porous shell of the eg preventing deterioration thereof. Likewise, this feature eliminates undesirable sweating or moisture condensation so that the holder and parts thereof do not become damp or soft, thereby maintaining and preserving the holders in their original condition for protecting, supporting and cushioning the eggs.

Where the holders of flats are so designed that the inner web is either dispensed with, or depressed to such a plane that the tips of the eggs or other articles will always be suspended, the ridges of such holders may be serrated or undulating .for affording passage of air to the under, lower portion of the egg enclosed by the ridge.

In the forms thus far described, it is apparent that the moisture may settle on the web I4, and evaporate through the channels due to the air circulation therethrough. As aforementioned, the durability and strength of the holder structure remains unimpaired.

Upon reference to the modified forms in Figs. 5 to 7, the indentations are deep so that the grooves are inclined in an outward direction so as to afford drainage for any excess and unevenorated moisture to the exterior of the holder, while at the same time serving as air channels, as in the form first described. In each of these forms the strength and efflciency of the holders'as' a whole, have been preserved since the grooves,

indentations and grooves have rounded portions merging with the ridges and other portions of the holders.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a form similar to that of Fig".

l'is illustrated, except that the indentations "a extend to-the base of the holder so that the bottom of the grooves lie at that point merge and are flush'with the surface of "flat" or sheet II. The inner portions of the grooves Ito merge and are flush with the medial portion or web I, which is disposed at a plane above the plane of the sheet. From this inner'web portion, the grooves radiate in a downwardly inclined direction to the lower plane of the sheet, so that any excess moisture will flow by gravity along the grooves, which serve in the nature of gutters. The inclination or pitch of the grooves will be more clearly seen upon reference to Fig. 6, although the degree of fall may be varied. The rounded contour of these grooves ul gutters provides an arch-like formation which braces the holder portions, functioning as buttresses spaced about the ringlike formation.

In Fig. 'l, the contour, functions and efliciency of the grooves IOB are the same asthose just described with respect to the embodiment in Fig. 5, except that the inclined grooves or gutters are parallel, instead of being radially disposed. with this form alsothe strength and durability of the holder are unimpaired, since the walls of the grooves reinforce and strengthen the holder in the manner aforementioned. The drainage and air circulation features of both these modiiications and the means for accomplishing this, strengthen the structure and further insure the protection afforded the eggs.

As illustrated in all embodiments (Figs. 1 to 7), the grooves are inclined either toward or away from the central web area. In Figs. 11:0 4, they are inclined upwardly through and beyond the ridge. whfle in Figs. 5 to 7, they are inclined downwardly through the outer walls, to

the plane of the sheet. It will also be seen that in all forms of embodiment the construction and arrangement is such that no dead air spaces existinside the holder in which moisture can lodge, but that the entire interior is ventilated and drained so that liquid will gravitate from proximity to the egg and moisture will be evaporated throughout.

I claim:

- the interior to receive an endof an article, said round rldgebeing of a size and form to support the article out of contact with the bottom of said depression but in contact with the walls of said depression above its bottom, said ridge having therein groovesextending therethrough and crosswise thereof approximately to the bottom of said depression and being downwardly and inwardly inclinedand tapered and extending to a point below the area of article contact, the

said parts being constructed and arranged to direct air entering said grooves or liquid exuding from the article or gravitating on the surface thereof to the bottom of said depression and to permit air to pass,,through said holders from one side to the other beneath saidarticle and to and from the exterior of said members.

2. In a packing for eggs and other fragile articles, a sheet of fibrous material having article supporting and holding members thereon, the said members comprising round, upstanding, hollow article-fitting ridges with downwardly spreading sides having acup-like depression in the interior to receive an end of an article, said round ridge being of a size and form. to support the article out of contact with the bottom of said depression but in contact with the walls of said depression above its bottom, said ridge having therein grooves extending therethrough and crosswise thereof approximately to the bottom of said depression and being downwardly and inwardly inclined and extending to a point below the area of article contact, the said parts being constructed and arranged to direct air entering said grooves or liquid exuding from the article or gravitating on the surface thereof to the bottom of said depression and to permit air to pass through said holders fromone side to the other beneath said article and to and from the exterior of said members.

3. In a packing for eggs and other fragile articles a sheet of fibrous material having article supporting and holding members thereon, the said members comprising round, upstanding, hollow article-fitting ridges with downwardly spreading sides having a cup-like depression in the interior to receive an end of an article, said round ridge being of a size and form to support the article out of contact with the bottom of said depression but in contact with the walls of said depression above its bottom, said ridge having therein grooves extending therethrough and crosswise thereof approximately to the bottom of said depression and being downwardly and inwardly inclined and extending to a point below the area of article contact, the said parts being constructed and arranged to direct air entering said grooves to the bottom of said. depression and to permit air to pass through said holders from one side to the other beneath said article and to MORRIS xorramsm. 

